Glucocorticoid trajectories over 2 years in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real-life setting.

Objectives: To analyse glucocorticoid (GC) use and trajectories in a real-life cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA included in the longitudinal RCVRIC cohort for initiating or changing biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, were compared for the use of GCs at baseline. Among the GC users, the GC dose was analysed over 2 years of follow-up by group-based trajectory models.

Post-traumatic stress disorder prior to diagnosis is as rare in spondyloarthritis as in non-inflammatory rheumatic conditions and rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). No data are available in spondyloarthritis (SpA). The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of traumatic events and PTSD in patients with SpA and its different phenotypes and to compare the results to patients with non inflammatory rheumatic disease and RA patients.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model of Hypovitaminosis D in General Adult Population: SCOPYD Study.

The worldwide global increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) measurements has led some countries to restrict reimbursement for certain clinical situations only. Another approach could consist in providing physicians with screening tools in order to better target blood test prescription. The objective of the SCOPYD study was to identify the best combination of predictors of serum VitD concentration among adults aged 18-70 years.

The Effect of TNF and Non-TNF-Targeted Biologics on Body Composition in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a decrease in lean mass and stability or even an increase in fat and ectopic adipose tissue. A few data are available on body composition changes under treatment, and data are still controversial. Body composition was assessed before initiation of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) and after 6 and 12 months of stable treatment.

French survey on the crossed needs on sexual health for chronic inflammatory rheumatism patients and healthcare professionals.

Patients with Inflammatory Chronic Rheumatic disease have approximately three times more sexual dysfunction than the healthy population. However, health professionals do not dare to discuss the subject with them, largely because they do not feel educated on the subject. To define the educational needs in the sexual health of health professionals involved in patient education and those of patients with Inflammatory Chronic Rheumatic disease.

Prevalence of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain in Rheumatic Diseases.

To investigate the physiopathology of pain in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRDs), we assessed the prevalence of migraine and neuropathic pain in 499 patients with CIRDs. We studied 238 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 188 with spondyloarthritis (SpA), 72 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and 1 unclassified. Migraine was diagnosed according to IHS migraine diagnostic criteria.

Evaluation of the Implementation of Guidelines on the Treatment of Osteoporosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To assess whether the 2003 and 2014 French guidelines on the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and the 2012 update of the French guidelines for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) were applied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 776 patients with RA (19 centers). We collected the data required for the application of the various recommendations (age, sex, prednisone intake, low-energy fracture, history in the immediate family of hip fractures, and bone densitometry), anti-osteoporotic drugs, and the various factors that may be associated with the application of the recommendations.

Retention rates of adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab as first- or second-line biotherapies for spondyloarthritis patients in daily practice in Auvergne (France).

Objective: To compare, in real-life settings, the retention rates of initial anti-tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) treatments (etanercept [ETN], adalimumab [ADA] and infliximab [IFX]) used as first-line biotherapy for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and evaluate treatment switches to another anti-TNF inhibitor in the event of treatment failure.

Methods: We analyzed the medical records of all SpA patients (Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis International Working Group axial criteria) treated with ETN, IFX or ADA between 2001 and February 2015. Drug retention rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by means of the Cox extended model.

Retention rates of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab as first-line biotherapy agent for rheumatoid arthritis patients in daily practice - Auvergne experience.

Objective: To compare, in real-life conditions, the retention rates of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment (etanercept [ETN], adalimumab [ADA] and infliximab [IFX]) initiated as first-line biotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate, in case of failure, the switch to another anti-TNF or a non-anti-TNF biological.

Methods: Monocentric retrospective cohort including all patients with RA starting a first anti-TNF between 2001 and 2015.

Results: Among the 346 patients analyzed, 201 received ETN, 82 ADA and 63 IFX.

Prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density in spondyloarthritis and prevalence of vertebral fractures.

Background: Investigate the prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as well as investigating the prevalence of vertebral fractures.

Methods: Patients underwent BMD measurements with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the anterior-posterior lumbar spine, lateral spine and hip. We screened for vertebral fractures using vertebral fracture assessment, and then checked for syndesmophytes on the VFA images.

Changes in body composition and metabolic profile during interleukin 6 inhibition in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased mortality associated with cardiometabolic disorders including dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, and cachectic obesity. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and interleukin 6 receptor blocker licensed for the treatment of RA decrease inflammation and could thus improve cardiovascular risk, but their effects on body composition and metabolic profile need to be clarified. We investigated the effects of tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized anti-interleukin 6 receptor antibody, on body composition and metabolic profile in patients treated for RA.

Frequency of concomitant fibromyalgia in rheumatic diseases: Monocentric study of 691 patients.

Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a confounding factor for diagnosing and assessing rheumatic disease activity. This study sought to assess the extent of this syndrome in rheumatism patients at a French rheumatology department.

Method: This monocentric epidemiological study enrolled all patients consulting due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), or connective tissue disease (CTD).

Psoriatic arthritis treated by anti-TNFs: a monocentric trial of 102 cases in Auvergne, France.

Objectives: While several registries have already evaluated the retention of anti-TNF therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), they sometimes reach divergent conclusions. Our study therefore sought to assess therapeutic retention rates and predictive factors of response in a patient cohort from Auvergne, France, followed up in routine clinical practice.

Methods: Medical records of all PsA patients treated from 2002 to May 2015 were analysed.

Performance of Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) to detect fibromyalgia syndrome in rheumatic diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) self-questionnaire for the detection of FM associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Methods: This cross-sectional, French single-centre study was carried out between September 2014 and April 2015 in all patients who consulted for RA, SpA or CTD. Diagnosis of FM was based on ACR 90 criteria and rheumatologist opinion.

Parkinson's disease: A risk factor for osteoporosis.

Parkinson's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. On the long term, it may be complicated by various musculoskeletal problems, such as osteoporotic fractures, that have significant socioeconomic consequences. Indeed, patients suffering from Parkinson's disease have a higher fracture risk, particularly hip fracture risk, than other subjects of the same age because of both a higher risk of falls and lower bone mineral density.

Refractory rheumatic disorder: atypical postpregnancy osteoporosis.

This is a case report on a young patient with severe osteoporosis that was initially revealed when she presented with polyarthralgia during her second pregnancy. Postpartum, the pain increased and her X-ray did not show any abnormalities. A bone scintigraphy was performed.

The SAPHO syndrome: a single-center study of 41 adult patients.

Objective: The SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) is a rare disease and only a few series have been published about it. We describe the experience of a rheumatology department with a focus on the therapeutic aspects.

Methods: All cases of SAPHO fulfilling the Benhamou criteria and seen between 1992 and 2013 in our unit were retrospectively included.

Efficacy and safety of pamidronate in Modic type 1 changes: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Erosive degenerative disc disease, also known as Modic type 1 changes, is usually characterized by low back pain with an inflammatory pain pattern, as seen in spondyloarthropathies. Intravenous pamidronate has proven to be effective in patients with ankylosing spondylitis who are refractory to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and in painful bone diseases in general, such as Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia or vertebral fractures. We therefore hypothesize that pamidronate would be effective in treating low back pain associated with Modic type 1 changes.

Construction and utilization of a script concordance test as an assessment tool for DCEM3 (5th year) medical students in rheumatology.

Background: The script concordance test (SCT) is a method for assessing clinical reasoning of medical students by placing them in a context of uncertainty such as they will encounter in their future daily practice. Script concordance testing is going to be included as part of the computer-based national ranking examination (iNRE).This study was designed to create a script concordance test in rheumatology and use it for DCEM3 (fifth year) medical students administered via the online platform of the Clermont-Ferrand medical school.